Lubricating device



Aug. 22; 1939. I B. s. AIKMAN 2,170,228

LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed April s. 193'! a Sheets-Sheet 2 v 8 2H I85 I8083 IIIIIIIII 2-2: 226 BIO 220 23! INVENTOR ATTORNEY BURTONS.AIKMAN 1939-B. s. AIKMAN 2,170,228

LUBRQICATING DEVICE Filed April 8, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lll lli Ill? qaig- 4 IQSIQI. ma

- INVENTOR BURTON SAIK MAN BY 4. I

)83 "8 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICELUBRICATING DEVICE Application April 8, 1937, Serial No. 135,619

18 Claims.

This invention relates to lubricators, and more particularly to alubricator of the force-feed type for a fluid compressor or the like.

It has been proposed to provide automatic lubrication for fluid pressureengines such as the steam driven air compressor employed on a locomotivefor supplying fluid under pressure to the air brake system, thelubricator for this purpose being designed to supply oil in properquantities and at sufficient pressure to the several operating elementsof the compressor for insuring constant lubrication thereof as long asthe compressor is operated.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved lubricator of theabove type which is adapted to supply a proper quantity of oil forlubricating a compressor or the like at predetermined intervals duringoperation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricator of simple andsturdy construction and which may be operated for a long period ofservice without requiring attention or repairs.

A further object is to provide an improved lubricating device comprisingmultiple force-feed means operative to supply oil through separatelubricant ducts to operating parts of a compressor, and means effectiveat all times for preventing undesired back flow of fluid under presurefrom the ducts to the lubricating device.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a fluid compressorlubricating device having means operative to effect a periodic build-upof pressure on the oil therein at intervals timed with relation to therate of operation of the compressor, and means responsive to apredetermined increase in the pressure of oil in the device to supply aquantity of oil of the desired grade therefrom for lubricatingthecompressor.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following moredetailed description of the invention, taken with reference to the'accompanying drawings, wherein: 1

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a lubricating device constructedin accordance with one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is averticalsectional view of a lubricating device embodying my invention inanother form thereof, the device being shown diagrammatically; Figs. 3and 4 are sectional views of the oil distributing means comprising partof the device shown in Fig. 2, illustrating different positions thereof;Figs. 5, 6', '7 and 8 are sectional views taken on lines 55, 66, 1'I and88, respectively, of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a view partly in section, takensubstantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view takensubstantially on the line l0l0 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 11 is anothervertical view, reduced in scale, of the lubricating device shown in Fig.2, the device being shown sectioned in a plane different from the planeof section in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the lubricating device in the formthere shown comprises a main casing I having a lower portion in whichisformed a supply chamber 2 adapted to contain a quantity of fluidlubricant, and a substantially cylindrical upper portion in which areformed a control or metering chamber 4 and a pressure chamber 5communicating therewith through an aperture 6, which is provided in awall 1 separating the chambers 4 and 5. The chambers 4 and. 5 surround acentrally disposed columnar portion I0 of the main casing I havingformed therein a bore II, in which is slidably mounted a pump plungerl2.

The lower end of the plunger l2 constitutes a means for pumping oil fromthe supply chamber 2 to the metering chamber 4, and is provided with achamber l4 and a port [5, through which the chamber l4 communicates witha chamber l5 which is formed at the bottom face of the plunger 12 withina downwardly extending portion ll of the casing. The chamber I6communicates through a passage I8 with the supply chamber 2, and hasdisposed therein a ball check valve which is adapted to engage a seat 2|surrounding the passage l8 for preventing back flow of oil from thechamber Hi to the chamber 2. Similarly, back flow of oil from thechamber 14 in the plunger I2 to the chamber I6 is prevented by a ballcheck valve 22 which is carried in the plunger i2 and is adapted toengage a seat 23 adjacent the port 15, the chamber I4 being at all timesopen to the metering chamber 4 by way of an aperture 25 formed in theplunger l2 which is adapted to register with an opening 26 formed in theportion ll] of the main casing I. In order to avoid escape of oil byseepage past the plunger l2 into chamber 32, the plunger is providedwith an intermediate reduced portion IBa which is adapted to registerwith a passage 24 communicating with th supply chamber 2.

A perforated cage element 21 is mounted within metering chamber 4, andcontains a float valve 28, which may be made of cork or lightcomposition material and which is adapted to be floated into seatingengagement with an annular seat formed around the aperture 6 in the Wall1 for preventing access of oil from the chamber 4 to chamber 5.

The plunger 12 is adapted to be reciprocated by a piston 3| which isslidably mounted in a suitable bore formed in the upper portion of themain casing I, the piston forming at the lower side a chamber 32connected through a passage to an atmospheric cavity 34, and at theupper side a chamber 35 which is formed within a casing section 36 thatis secured to the main casing l by suitable means, not shown. Thechamber 35 is connected by way of a passage 38 formed in the casingsection 36 to a pipe 39 which communicates with a suitable source offluid pressure supply, such as a compression chamber of a compressor.

A spring ll is interposed between the piston 3i and a shoulder 42 at thelower end of chamber 32 for urging the piston upwardly, and the pistonis provided with means limiting its upward movement comprising a centralboss portion 43 adapted for engagement with a wall 54 formed in theeasing section 36. The boss portion 43 has a suitably threaded bore forreceiving a bolt G6, which extends through an aperture 61 in the wall 45 into a chamber 45 formed in the casing section 36 and carries a head38 adapted to engage the upper surface of the wall for limiting thedownward move ment of the piston. A pair of guide pins are secured inthe casing section 36 and extend downwardly through the chamber 35 intosuitable recesses formed in the piston 3i for preventing undesiredrotation thereof.

The chamber 35 communicates by way of a passage 52 with a valve chamber53, in which is disposed a ball check valve 5% adapted to prevent backflow of fluid therefrom to the passage 52, the valve chamber 53 beingconnected through a restricted passage 55 and apassage 55 with thepressure chamber 5 in the main casing E. The main casing i also has apassage 5i communieating at the lower end with the supply chamber 2above the level of the lubricant therein, and at the other end with avalve chamber 58, which is connected to the pipe 39 and contains a ballcheck valve 59 adapted to prevent back flow of fluid from the valvechamber to the passage 5?.

For supplying oil under pressure from the supply chamber 2 to thecompressor or other mechanism to be lubricated there is provided oilforcing means comprising a pump element or plunger til operativelymounted in a bore 52 formed in the casing and a piston 63 adapted tooperate the plunger, said piston having at one side a chamber 64 alwaysopen through a passage 65 to the supply chamber 2, and at the other sidean operating chamber 67 which is adapted to communicate by way of apassage 58 with the metering chamber l as hereinafter explained. Aspring it is disposed in. the chamber 64 between the lower wall thereofand the piston '63 and is adapted to urge the piston upwardly into theposition shown in the drawing, so that the upper end of the bore 62 isnormally open through supply passage H to the chamber 2 and also througha passage 72 to the chamber E i, these passages being adapted to beclosed by the plunger when it is moved downwardly as hereinafterdescribed.

The piston 63 is provided with an adjustable stop bolt i i which hasscrew-threaded engagement therewith and extends through an opening '55formed. in a hollow cap '16 that is secured to the casing, the head H ofthe stop bolt being adapted to engage the portion of the cap itsurrounding the opening ?5 for limiting the downward stroke of thepiston. Two guide pins '79 are secured to the piston 63 and extendthrough suitable bores formed in the cap it to prevent the piston fromturning.

The piston 63 is adapted to be actuated either by oil under pressure orby air under pressure according to the manner of operation of thelubricator as hereinafter described. The supply of oil under pressurefor operating the piston 63 is controlled. by a valve piston which isindicated generally at 8% and is slida-bly mounted in a bore 8i formedin a sleeve portion 22 provided on the main casing l withn the supplychamber 2, the bore 8i being open to the passage 68 and connected thougha restricted passage 83 to the sup ply chamber 2. The valve piston 8Ehas a central boss portion 85 of smaller diameter than that of the bore8|, which boss portion is adapted to engage an annular valve seat 38formed on the casing, for controlling communication between the chamber3 and the bore 3!. A spring 8! is interposed between the valve piston 89and a wall of the chamber 2 for urging the valve piston into its seatedposition, and a stop member 88 is provided for engagement with the valvepiston to limit movement thereof away from seat 36. It will be notedthat with the valve piston in the seated position as shown in Fig. 1,only the area of the boss portion 85 within the annular seat 85 isexposed to the chamber 4.

In order to permit a direct supply of air or other fluid under pressurefrom the compressor for operating the piston 68, at a fast rate whendesired, there is provided a by-pass communication comprising a passage9&3 connected to the chamber E5 in the casing section 38, and a pipe 95communicating with said passage and with the passage 68, a manuallyoperable cut-off valve 92 being interposed in. the pipe 9! forcontrolling communication therethrough.

Means is provided for permitting the flow of oil supplied by thelubricator to be observed comprising a viewing glass $35 constituting awall of a valve chamber 96, which viewing glass is secured to the casingbetween annular gaskets 98 by means of a screw-threaded clamping ring97. The valve chamber as contains a check valve 99 which is urged intoseated position by the pressure of a spring tilt for preventing backflow of fluid from the chamber 9 5 to the chamber 62. The valve chamber934 communicates through a passage llli with a pair of connected valvechambers m2 and H33, which contain lower and upper ball check valves 18%and 1%, respectively, and the valve chamber Hi3 communicates through apassage Hi6 with a pipe If leading to the compressor or other mechanismto be lubricated, it being apparent that the possibility of back flow orleakage of fluid therefrom to the lubricator is obviated by thearrangement of the three check valves.

In operation it will be understood that air under pressure isalternately supplied to and vented from the piston chamber 35 by way ofthe pipe 39 and passage 32, in timed relation to the speed of operationof the compressor. Whenv air under pressure is supplied to the chamber35, the piston 3i is forced downwardly against the pressure of thespring 1!, thereby moving the plunger 92 in the same direction so thatthe lower end thereof displaces oil initially contained in the chamberE6, the oil being forced through the opening l5 and past the ball checkvalve 22 into the chamber Id within said plunger, the ball check valve20 preventing back flow of the oil into chamber 2. The quantity of oilforced from the chamber l6 past the valve 22 into the chamber I4 is, ofcourse, limited in accordance with the length of stroke of the plungerl2 as determined by adjusted position of the stop bolt 43 which isadapted to engage the wall 44 of the casing section 36.

At the same time, air under pressure is supplied from the chamber 35through the passage 52, past the ball check valve 54, through the re:-stricted passage 55 and the passage 56 to the pressure chamber 5 as wellas to the metering chamber 4 connected thereto, it being understood thatthe pressure of air thus supplied to the chamber 4 is insufficient tounseat the valve piston 80 against the pressure of the spring 81.

When the pressure of air in the chamber 35 is then reduced on thesuction stroke of the compressor, the spring 4i is permitted to move thepiston 3| upwardly until the boss 43 thereon engages the wall 44 of thecasing section 35. The plunger I2 is thereby pulled upwardly, thuscreating a partial vacuum in chamber I5, so that oil is drawn from thesupply chamber 2 through the passage I8 and past the ball check valve 20into the chamber I 5, substantially filling the chamber. Meanwhile, theoil already forced into the chamber I4 within the plunger I2 is free toflow through the aperture 25 and through the opening 26 registeringtherewith into the metering chamber 4.

When the pressure of air in the piston chamber 35 is again increased asa result of a compression stroke oi the compressor, the piston 3I isoperated to move the plunger I2 downwardly so: as to displace oil fromthe chamber It as already described, the oil flowing past the ball checkvalve 22 into the chamber I4 and thence through the aperture 25 andopening 25 into the metering chamber 4. The subsequent upward movementof the plunger I2 then causes more oil to be drawn from the chamber 2into the chamber I5. As the above described cycle of operation isrepeated, the level of the oil thus supplied to the metering chamber 4gradually rises, while the pressure or air supplied to the chamber 5 isbuilt up to a value approaching the maximum pressure of air supplied tothe piston chamber 35. The floating check valve 28 is thereby carriedupwardly within the apertured cage 27 until, when the chamber 4 issubstantially filled, said check valve is moved into engagement with theannular seat 39, preventing further communication between the chamber 4and chamber 5.

With the metering chamber 4 substantially full of oil and the floatingvalve 23 in engagement with the seat 39, the subsequent cyclic increasein the pressure of air in the chamber 35 again causes the piston 3| tomove the plunger I2 downwardly so as to displace oil from the chamber I6into the chamber I4, this time creating a hydraulic pressure in themetering chamber 4 of sufficient value to overcome the spring 81 andforce the valve piston 89 away from the seat 85.

When the valve piston 80 is thus moved away from the seat 35, oil underpressure flows from the chamber 4 into the bore SI and acts on the fullpressure area of the valve piston so as to maintain it unseated againstthe pressure of the spring 81, while oil under pressure is supplied fromthe bore 8| through the passage 58 to the piston chamber 61. The volumeof air under pressure in the chamber 5 is meanwhile permitted to expand,the air flowing through the aperture 6 and past the check valve 28 intothe metering chamber 4, where the air under pressure acts against theoil therein, thereby maintaining the fluid pressure in the connectedchambers 8| and 61.

The fluid pressure thus built up in the operating chamber 61 quicklymoves the piston 63 and: the plunger 6| downwardly, overcoming the forceof the spring I5, the plunger GI thereby cuttingv off communication fromthe passages I2 and II to the bore 62 and forcing oil from the bore pastthe check valve 99 and into the valve chamber 94. Assuming that severalcycles of operation of the plunger BI as above described have alreadytaken place, so that the connected chambers 94, I92 and I53 as well asthe passage and pipe I05 are filled with oil, it will be evident thatthe downward stroke of the plunger 6| will effect the supply of the samequantity of oil under pressure to the compressor as is displaced fromthe chamber 62.

During the operation of the piston 63 and plunger 6i just described, theoil under pressure in the bore 8| is gradually discharged by way of therestricted passage 83 to the supply chamber 2, so that after thedownward stroke of the plunger GI has been completed, the air underpressure which was bottled up above the oil in the chambers 5 and 4 isvented by way of the bore BI, passage 83, the chamber 2, the passage 51,past the ball check valve 59, and through the chamber 58 and the pipe39. It will be noted that by thus venting the air under pressure fromthe chamber 2 into; the pipe 39, the oily vapors contained in the airwhich would otherwise be wasted, are retained in the fluid pressuresystem, being either drawn into the compression chamber on the suctionstroke of the compressor, or supplied to the piston chamber 35 in thelubricating device upon an alternate compression stroke.

If it is desired to operate the lubricating device to deliver oil at afast rate, as when the compressor to be lubricated is initially put intooperation, the plug valve 92 may be turned to the open position, therebyestablishing the by-pass communication from the pipe 39 and chamber 35through the opening 41, the chamber 45, the pas sage 99, the pipe 91 andpassage 58 to the operating chamber 51. Air under pressure is thenalternately supplied to and vented from the chamber 51 by way of thisdirect communication in accordance with the compression and suctionstrokes of the compressor, and as a result the piston 53 and plunger 5|are rapidly reciprocated,

the plunger alternately drawing oil from the chamber 2 into the bore 52and forcing oil therefrom past the check valves 99, I54 and H15 throughpassage I06 to the pipe I91. When sufiicient oil has been supplied tothe compressor by the above operation of the lubricating device at. afast rate, the plug valve 92 is again closed, and normal operation ofthe lubricating device as hereinbefore described is resumed.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated another formof the invention, embodied in a lubricating device the principle ofoperation of which is similar to that of the device shown in Fig. 1, butwhich includes additional features of construction, and novel means fordistributing oil under pressure from separate supply reservoirs througha plurality of conduits leading to diiTerent operating parts of thecompressor or other mechanism tobe lubricated. As shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 2 the lubricating device comprises a casing having an operatingoil supply chamber Hi! adapted to be supplied with oil of a certaingrade by way of a filling opening HI form-ed in the casing, the openingbeing normally closed by a cover H2 that is hinged on a pin H3 carriedby the casing. v

Formed within the chamber III! is a pump housing portion of the casing,indicated generally at II5, and a cylinder portion H6, and as is bestshown in Fig. 11 an interior wall II] is joined to said portion andseparates the chamber IIfl from an auxiliary oil supply chamber I25, alower extension IZiia of which is defined by an offset portion Illa ofthe wall as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The chamber I20 maycontain oil of a different grade than that in the chamber III the wall II1 extending into the filling opening III so that both chambers may besupplied with the proper oil when desired.

The portion I I5 of the casing has formed the-rein a control or meteringchamber I22 which communicates through passages I23 with a pressurechamber It! formed in the uppermost portion of the casing. An oil pumpis provided for pumping oil from the supply chamber I III into themetering chamber I22, which pump comprises plunger I25 slidably mountedin a central bore provided in a projection i2l' depending from theportion I I5 into the chamber I I 5 and in a columnar portion I28 formedwithin the chamber I22, said bore at its upper end being incommunication with a cylinder I29.

A chamber I3I is located at the lower face of the plunger I25 within theprojection I27 and communicates with a downwardly extending passage I32which opens into the supply chamber I I below the level of the oiltherein, a ball check valve I33 being disposed in the chamber I3I forpreventing back flow of oil therefrom to the passage I32. The chamberI3I communicates through a port I 35 formed in the plunger I26 with avalve chamber 535, which is also formed in the plunger and contains aball check valve I31 adapted to prevent back fiow of fluid from thevalve chamber through the passage I35 to the chamber I3I. The valvechamber is at all times open to the metering chamber I22 by way of aninterior bore i238 formed in the plunger, an annular groove Mil alsoformed in the plunger and an aperture MI formed in the portion I28 ofthe casing.

An annular fioat valve element I43 is loosely fitted around the portionI28 of the casing within the metering chamber I22 and is adapted toengage a seating face IN surrounding the passages I23 in the upper wallof the chamebr I 22 for cutting off communication between said chamberand the pressure chamber I24 after the chamber I22 is filled with oil inthe manner hereinafter described.

For operating the plunger I26 there is provided a piston I55 which isslidably mounted in the cylinder I29 and forms at the upper face thereofa chamber I45, which is connected through a passage IGI and a valvechamber 9 38 with a pipe I55 which may be connected to the compressionchamber of the fiuid compressor, not shown. A spring II is disposed inthe cylinder I29 and acts against the piston I45 for urging the pistonand consequently the plunger I25 upwardly to a position in which thepiston engages a stop lug I52. A conduit I53 is provided for connectingthe lower end of the cylinder I29 with a passage I56 which leads in onedirection to the chamber IID and in the other direction to the valvechamber I48, the valve chamber containing a ball check valve I55 forpreventing back fiow of fluid under pressure from the valve chamber tothe passage I54. The chamber I55 above the piston I45 communicatesthrough a valve chamber I56, a passage I51 and a restricted port I58with the pressure chamber I24, back fiow of fluid under pressure fromthe valve chamber to the chamber 146 being prevented by a ball checkvalve I59 disposed in the valve chamber.

Slidably mounted in the cylinder portion IIB which opens into the oilsupply chamber III) is a valve piston Isl, which has a boss portion I52centrally disposed thereon and adapted to engage an annular valve seatI53 that is formed on an interior wall of the casing and surrounds anopening I64 through which the metering chamber I22 may communicate witha chamber I65 provided at the upper side of the valve piston I6I. Aspring I55 is interposed between the valve piston I5! and the lower wallof the chamber I I0 for normally maintaining the valve piston in theseated position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and a stop elementIt? is provided for engaging the valve piston to limit downward movementthereon.

The chamber I55 communicates through a restricted pasasge I69 formed inthe cylinder portion II6 with the oil supply chamber H0, and is adaptedto communicate with a passageway I'lI formed in the casing when thevalve piston I6I is moved downwardly in the manner hereinafterdescribed, the passageway III being normally covered by the valve pistonwhen it is in the seated position as shown in the drawings.

As a means for forcing oil of the proper grade and in the desiredquantity to the different working parts of the compressor, there isprovided a force-feed distributing mechanism which is mounted in thelower portion of the lubricating device, and which is adapted to operatein response to the pressure of oil periodically supplied by the pump andassociated elements already described for delivering predeterminedquantities of oil from each of the supply chambers Ill) and I through aplurality of separate delivery conduits. The distributing mechanismcomprises a horizontally disposed sleeve member, indicated generally atI15 which has formed on one end thereof an enlarged cylinder portionIl't, and is rotatably mounted in a suitable bore I'I'I formed in thecasing beneath the oil supply chambers I I0 and I20.

The cylinder portion I'I6 carried on the sleeve member I75 is adapted torevolve with that member and has a bearing portion I80 of relativelylarge diameter, which is formed adjacent an end I18, of reduced diameterextending into a chamber HQ. The bearing portion I88 is closely fittedbetween annular off-set shoulders I82 and I83 which define an enlargedbore formed within the casing in coaxial alignment with the bore Ill andsurrounding said bearing portion I80. As is best shown in Fig. 8 of-thedrawings, the hearing portion I80 is adapted to to rest in slidingengagement on a transversely disposed wall I85 which projects into thebore surrounding the bearing portion, there being thus formed on oneside of the wall I85 a curved chamber I86 which communicates through apassage I8? formed in the shoulder I82 with the chamber I19, and througha passage I88 with chamber III]. On the other side of the Wall I85 isprovided a curved chamber I89 which is open to the passageway III.

As is best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, a transverselydisposed vane [BI is mounted on the bearing portion I85 of the sleeveelement and has a sliding fit with the wall of the bore and with theshoulders I82 and I83, a portion of said vane being secured in anysuitable manner within a suitable groove formed in the bearing portion.The vane I9I is adapted in a normal position thereof to engage a stoppin I92 which is fitted into the casing and extends across the chamberI89, and is providedwith a restricted relief passage I93 connectingchambers I88 and I89. As hereinafter more fully explained, the Vane I9Iis adapted to be subjected to the pressure of oil or other fluidsupplied to the chamber I89 for turning the sleeve element I15 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8.

For controlling communication through the passage I81, an arcuate valveelement I94 is provided within the chamber I88, which valve element isfitted on the bearing portion I38 and secured to the vane I9I in asuitable manner, the valve element being thereby maintained in slidingengagement with the shoulder I82. The length of the arcuate valveelement I94 is such that the valve element is adapted to cover thepassage I81 upon initial rotary movement of the sleeve member I15 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, said valve elementpermitting continued rotation of the member I15 until the vane I 9| ismoved past the passage I81 to establish communication between saidpassage and the chamber I89. The free end of the valve element I94 isadapted to engage the wall I85 for limiting the rotary movement of thesleeve member.

The end of the sleeve member I15 opposite the end I18 extends into achamber I91 formed in the right-hand portion of the casing as viewed inFig. 2, and has mounted thereon an arm I98 which is secured to the shaftmember by means of a key I99. As shown in Fig. '7 the upper end of thearm I98 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 28! to a rod. 202,which is disposed transversely within the chamber I91 and is slidablymounted in a sleeve element 283 having a rounded end portion 294operatively fitted into a suitable depression 205 formed in the casing.A coil spring 206 is interposed between the end 284 of the sleeveelement 293 and a collar 291 provided on the rod 282, and acts throughthe medium of the arm I98 to urge the sleeve member I15 in a clockwisedirection, thereby so positioning said member that the vane I9! on thebearing portion I8!) is normally maintained in engagement with the stoppin I92, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

. piston chamber 2I3 communicating through an aperture 3I4 in the endI18 of the cylinder portion with the chamber I19. The portion of thebore 2 on the other side of the piston 2I2 is connected by way of anaperture 2I1 formed in the cylinder wall and a passage 2I8 formed in thecasing with the supply chamber III). The piston 2I2 is adapted tooperate a plunger 229, one end of which is secured to the piston and theother end of which is slidably mounted in the bore 2I0 formed in thesleeve member I15.

As is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in the drawings, the plunger 228 isadapted to extend through only a portion of the length of the bore 2I8,which has mounted therein beyond the plunger a plurality of cylindricalpump elements, designated L elements 22I and 223 apart as shown in Fig.3,

one of said springs being interposed between each pair of adjacent endsof the pump members, it being noted that the spring 225 acting on thepump element 223 in the extreme right-hand end of the bore engages anend wall 226, so that the cumulative force of all of springs iseffective to act through the respective pump elements and the plunger228 for urging the piston 2I2 toward the left-hand and into engagementwith a stop lug 221 projecting from the end wall I18.

It will thus be apparent that with the respective springs 225 expandedand the pump elements 22l and 223 thereby spaced apart as shown in Fig.3 of the drawings, thevalve elements are adapted toprovide a series ofchambers defined within the bore 2 III, as designated at 228 and 229. Inorder to permit the chambers 228 to be filled with oil from the supplychamber I I0, the sleeve member I15 is provided with suitably formedpassages 23I extending radially from the bore 2IEI and so positioned asto open only into the chambers 228, said passages being adapted toregister respectively with ports 232 formed in the lower wall of thesupply chamber II!) when the mechanism is in the normal position asshown in Fig. 3. Similarly, radial passages 234 are formed in the sleevemember I15 adjacent the chambers 229 and are adapted to establishcommunication therefrom through ports 236 formed in the lower wall of.the other supply chamber I20 within the portion I28a thereof, as is bestshown in Fig. 5 of the drawmgs.

For conveying oil under pressure from the lubricating device to thedifferent parts of the compressor to be lubricated, a plurality ofconduits or pipes'238 are provided, each of which is adapted to receiveoil forced from one of the chambers 228 and 229 in the mannerhereinafter explained. For convenience the pipes 238 may be grouped uponopposite sides of the lowermost portion of the lubricator casing, eachpipe being connected to one of a number of passages 240 formed in thecasing and leading to the bore I11 in which the rotatable sleeve memberI15 is mounted, as shown in Fig. 5. Each of the passages 248 is adaptedto register with one of the respective radial passages 23I and 234 inthe sleeve member I15 upon rotation of the member in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 5. In order'to prevent possible leakage of.oil under pressure from the passages 249 by back flow past the sleevemember I15 into the oil sup ply chambers, pressure release ports 24I areprovided in the casing and are adapted. to communicate with suitablegrooves 242 formed in the sleeve member I15, each of said grooves beingnormally disposed directly above one of the passages 249 while the shaftmember I15 is positioned as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

In operation, fluid under pressure is alternately supplied to and ventedfrom the piston chamber I46, by way of the passage I41 and pipe I58, ina series of successive cycles in response to the usual operation of thecompressor associated with the lubricating device. Upon an increase influid pressure in the piston chamber I46, the piston I45 is forceddownwardly against the pressure of the spring I5I, thereby forcing theplunger I26 into the chamber I3I, so as to cause the oil initiallycontained therein to flow through the passage I35 in the plunger andpast the check valve I31 into the chamber I36, from which the oil isfree to fiow through the bore I39, passage I40 and aperture I4I intothe, metering chamber I22. Upon the subsequent reduction in fluidpressure in the piston chamber I46, the spring I5I is permitted to forcethe piston I45 and the plunger I26 upwardly, causing oil to be drawnfrom the supply chamber III] through the passage I32 in the casingportion I21 and past the check valve I33 into the chamber I3I. As thiscycle of operation is continued, the oil thus supplied to the meteringchamber I22 raises the float valve element I43, while fluid pressure isgradually built up in the pressure chamber I24 by flow of fluid underpressure from the chamber I46 past the ball check valve I59 and throughthe valve chamber I56, the passage I51 and the restricted passage I58.

When the metering chamber I22 has been substantially filled with oil sothat the valve element I43 is held in engagement with the seating faceI44 for cutting oif communication through the passages I23 with thechamber I24, continued operation of the plunger I26 then createssuflicient hydraulic pressure acting in chamber I22 on the boss portionI62 within the seat I63 to force the valve piston I6I downwardly, thusmoving the boss portion I62 away from the seat I63. The pressure offluid in the chamber I24 thereupon forces oil into the chamber I andacts on the entire pressure area of the valve piston through the mediumof the oil, so that the valve piston is forced into engagement with thestop member I61 for establishing communication from the chamber I65through the passageway I1I to the chamber I89.

The pressure of oil thus admitted to the chamber I89 acts against thevane I!!! so as to force the vane away from the pin I92, therebyrotating the sleeve member I15 in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 8, the sleeve member in so turning operating the arm I98and the rod 282 to compress the spring 206.

Upon the initial rotation of the sleeve member I15, the arcuate valveelement I94 is operated to lap the passage I81, and as rotation of thesleeve member is continued, the valve element is finally moved intoengagement with the wall I85, the vane I9I at the same time establishingcommunication from the passage I89 to the passage I81. It will beunderstood that during this operation the oil initially contained in thechamber I86 is free to flow therefrom and. through the passage I88 tothe oil supply chamber III].

As the sleeve member I15 is thus rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection, the passages 23I and 234 are moved out of registration withthe respective ports 232 and 236 formed in the lower walls of the supplychambers H9 and I20, respectively, and said passages 234 and 23l arethen brought into registration with the passages 240 formed in thecasing, as will best be understood by reference to Fig. 5 of thedrawings. It will also be understood that while the sleeve member I15 isrotating as just described, the pump elements 22I and 223 are maintainedapart by the several springs 225, the chambers 228 and 229 at the endsof said pump elements having been initially charged with oil by gravityflow thereof from the supply chamber III) and the chambers 229 with oilfrom the supply chamber I28.

Meanwhile, when the chamber I89 is connected to the passage I81, oilunder pressure is quickly supplied through said chamber and passage andthrough the chamber I19 and the passage 2I4 in the end I18 of thecylinder portion into the piston chamber 2 I3, and the piston M2 isthereby moved toward the right-hand, carrying with it the plunger 228.The force with which the plunger 228 is thus moved is sufiicient toovercome the pressure of the various springs 225, so that the pumpelements 22I and 223 are shifted toward the right-hand and are gatheredtogether, thereby displacing the oil from the respective chambers 228and 229. The pump elements 22I and 223 are now positioned as illustratedin Fig. i of the drawings.

As the pump elements 22I and 223 are thus brought together, the oildisplaced from the chambers 22B is forced through the passages 23! andthrough the passages 248 registering therewith to the correspondingdelivery pipes 236, from which the oil under pressure is supplied to thecompressor, and at the same time the oil displaced from the chambers 228is forced under pressure to the passages 234 and through thecorresponding passages 248 and pipes 238 for lubricating other parts ofthe compressor.

Meanwhile, as the oil distributing mechanism in the lower part of thecasing of the lubricating device functions to deliver oil under pressureto the compressor in the manner just described, the oil remaining in themetering chamber I22 is forced past the Valve piston I6I and through thechamber 465 and the restricted passage I69 into the supply chamber M8,by the pressure of air bottled up in, the chambers I24 and I 22. Aftersubstantially all of the oil has been driven out of the metering chamberI22 and the chamber I65 into the chamber H8 as just explained, the airunder pressure is quickly vented from the connected chambers I24 and I22 by flow through the chamber E65, the passage I69, the chamber III],the passage H54, and past the check valve I55 to the chamber I48, andwith the pressure in the chamber I55 thus reduced, the spring 166 ispermitted to move the valve piston I6I upwardly until the boss portionI62 again engages the valve seat I63.

The pressure of oil in the chamber l89 is at the same time reduced as aresult of the reduction of pressure in the chamber I65 as justexplained, 'so that the spring 286 is enabled to operate the plunger 282and the arm I98 for turning the sleeve member I15 in a clockwisedirection, until the vane EQI is again moved into engagement with thestop pin I82, as will be understood by reference to Figs. 7 and 8 of thedrawings. While the vane I91 thus approaches the pin I92, oil containedin the chamber I89 is permitted to flow into the chamber I86 by way ofthe restricted relief port I93.

During the rotary movement of the sleeve member I15 in a clockwisedirection, the arcuate valve element i64 is adapted to cover the passageI81 for preventing flow of oil from the piston chamber 2I3 by way ofpassage 2E4, the chamber I19, and through the passage I81, the oilremaining in the chamber 2I3 thus being effective to maintain the piston2H2 and plunger 228 in the position in which said plunger holds the pumpelements 22 I and 223 gathered together against the combined pressuresof the springs 225, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Just prior toengagement of the vane I8I with the stop pin 562, however, the port I81is uncovered by the vane I94, oil being then free to flow from thechamber 2I3 by way of the passage E81, through the chamber I86 and thepassage 88 to the chamber III), thereby substantially relieving thepiston 2I2 of fluid pressure. The springs 225 are then permitted toforce ber to said control chamber, a float valve in said the pumpelements 22! and 223 apart, and since the passages 23! and 234 haveagain been brought to registration with the respective ports 232 and236, oil is thus drawn from the supply chambers ill] and I26respectively, by way of said communications into the chambers 228 and229.

It will be noted that a manually operable valve 244 is provided forcontrolling a by-pass communication which leadsfrom the pipe I 50 by wayof the passage I41 and chamber I45 and through a passage 245 formed inthe casing to the passageway I'll. As will readily be understood fromthe description already presented in connection with the valve 92 shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings, the valve 244 is adapted to be operated toits open position for permitting the supply and release of air underpressure to and from the chamber I89 so as to cause operation of the oildistributing mechanism at a more rapid rate than is effected by thenormal operation thereof as hereinbefore described.

Summarizing, according to my invention there is provided improved meansfor lubricating a compressor or the like, which means comprises a fluidpressure operated pump adapted gradually to supply oil under pressure toa metering or timing chamber, and force-feed distributing mechanismresponsive to a predetermined pressure of oil periodically built-up inthe chamber for supplying the proper quantity of oil under pressure forlubricating the compressor, the distributing mechanism being constructedand arranged to prevent undesired back flow of oil from said compressor.In addition, the invention provides means for operating the oildistributing mechanism at a fast rate for increasing the quantity of oilsupplied during a given period when desired, and may be embodied in alubricating device for supplying more than one grade of oil throughseparate communications to different operating parts of the compressor.

While two illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedin detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to thoseembodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims,

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a force-feed lubricator, in combination, a casing having a supplychamber containing a quantity of fluid lubricant, and a control chamber,a pump operable to supply fluid lubricant from said supply chamber tosaid control chamber, and lubricant distributing means operative upon apredetermined increase in the pressure of lubricant within said controlchamber to force a quantity of lubricant under pressure from said supplychamber to a delivery communication.

2. In an automatic lubricator, in combination, a casing having a supplychamber containing a quantity of fluid lubricant, and a control chamber,a pump operative by fluid pressure to supply lubricant from said supplychamber to said control chamber, means for sup-plying fluid underpressure to said control chamber, and lubricant distributing meansoperative on a predetermined increase in the pressure of lubricantwithin said control chamber to force a quantity of lubricant underpressure from said supply chamber through a delivery communication. 7

3. In a lubricating device, in combination, a casing having a lubricantsupply chamber, and a con-' trol chamber, a pump operable by fluidpressure to supply fluid lubricant from said supply chamcontrol chamberadapted to control communica-' tion from said control chamber to apressure outlet, said float valve being operative to cut off saidcommunication when the control chamber is substantially filled withfluid lubricant, and lubricant forcing means operative upon apredetermined increase in the pressure of lubricant within said controlchamber to supply a quantity of lubricant under pressure from saidsupply chamber.

4. In a lubricating device, in combination, a casing having a fluidlubricant supply chamber and a control chamber, a pump operable by fluidpressure to supply fluid lubricant from said supply chamber to saidcontrol chamber, an auxiliary chamber communicating with said controlchamber, a float valve operative by fluid lubricant filling the controlchamber to cut off communication therefrom to said auxiliary chamber,and force-feed lubricating means rendered operative on a predeterminedincrease in the pressure of fluid lubricant in said control chamber,following seating of said float valve, to deliver lubricant from thesup-ply chamber under the pressure of fluid in said auxiliary chamber.

5. In a lubricating device, in combination, a casing having a fluidlubricant supply chamber and a control chamber, a pump operable by fluidpressure to supply fluid lubricant from said supply chamber to saidcontrol chamber, an auxiliary chamber communicating with said controlchamber, a float valve operative by fluid lubricant filling the controlchamber to cut oil communication therefrom to said auxiliary chamber,forcefeed lubricating means operative under pressure of fluid in saidauxiliary chamber in response to a predetermined increase in thepressure of fluid lubricant in said control chamber effected on closingof said valve, and means operative to establish discharge communicationfor the return flow of the fluid lubricant from said control chamber tosaid supply chamber upon operation of said force-feed lubricating means.

6. In. a force-feed lubricator, a casing having a control chamber and aliquid supply chamber, a pump operative to force liquid from said supplychamber to said control chamber, lubricant forcing means operable todeliver lubricant under pressure through a communication, and fluidpressure responsive means adapted to operate said lubricant forcingmeans upon a predetermined increase in the pressure of the liquid insaid control chamber.

7. In a force-feed lubricator, in combination, a casing having a fluidlubricant supply chamber and a control chamber, a pump operative toforce fluid lubricant from said supply chamber to said control chamber,lubricant forcing means operative upon an increase in pressure in an.operating chamber for supplying lubricant under pressure through adelivery communication, and control valve means operative on apredetermined increase in the pressure of the liquid in said controlchamber to establish communication therefrom to said operating chamber.

8. In an automatic lubricator, in combination, a casing having a controlchamber, an auxiliary chamber communicating therewith, and a supplychamber containing a supply of fluid lubricant, a pump operative toforce lubricant from said supply chamber intosaid control chamber, meansfor supplying fluid under pressure to said auxiliary chamber, a floatingcheck valve adapted to prevent the flow of lubricant from the controlchamber to the auxiliary chamber, while per- 75 mitting application ofthe pressure of fluid in the auxiliary chamber to lubricant in saidcontrol chamber, force-feed lubricant distributing means operative on anincrease in the pressure of fluid in an operating chamber, and controlvalve means operative on a predetermined increase in the pressure oflubricant in said control chamber to establish communication from saidcontrol chamber to said operating chamber for effecting operation ofsaid force-feed means by the pressure of fluid in said auxiliary chamberacting through the medium of lubricant in said control chamber.

9. In an automatic lubricating device, in combination, a casing havingan oil supply chamber, a control chamber, and an auxiliary chambercommunicating with said control chamber, oil pump means operativeaccording to variations in pressure of fluid in a piston chamber forpumping oil from said supply chamber into said control chamber, acommunication through which fluid under pressure is supplied from saidpiston chamber to said auxiliary chamber, a. check valve preventing backflow of fluid through said communication, a float valve element adaptedto prevent oil pumped into the control chamber from entering theauxiliary chamber while permitting application of the pressure of fluidin the auxiliary chamber to the oil in said control chamber, fluidpressure operated oil distributing means operative to supply oil underpressure from the supply chamber, and valve means operative by apredetermined hydraulic pressure in said control chamber forestablishing communication through which oil may be supplied to said oildistributing means under the pressure of fluid in said auxiliarychamber.

10. In an automatic lubricating device, in combination, a casing havingan oil supply chamber, a control chamber, and an auxiliary chambercommunicating with said control chamber, oil pump means operativeaccording to variations in pressure of fluid in a. piston chamber forpumping oil from said supply chamber into said control chamber, acommunication through which fluid under pressure is supplied from saidpiston chamber to said auxiliary chamber, a check valve preventing backflow of fluid through said communication, a float valve element adaptedto prevent oil pumped into the control chamber from entering theauxiliary chamber while permitting application of the pressure of fluidin said auxiliary chamber to the oil in said control chamber, fluidpressure operated oil distributing means op erative to supply oil underpressure from the supply chamber, valve means operative by apredetermined hydraulic pressure in. said control chamber forestablishing communication through which oil may be supplied to said oildistributing means under the pressure of fluid in said auxiliarychamber, and a restricted return flow passage through which oil andfluid may flow from said control chamber to the oil supply chamber.

11. In an automatic lubricating device, in combination, a casing havingan oil supply chamber, a control chamber, and a piston chamber adaptedto be subjected to alternately increasing and decreasing fluid pressure,oil pumping means operative in accordance with variations in pres surein said piston chamber to pump oil from said supply chamber into saidcontrol chamber, oil forcing means adapted to be operated by fluidpressure for supplying oil under pressure from said supply chamber,normally closed control valve means periodically operative in responseto a predetermined increase in fluid pressure in said control chamber tosupply oil under pressure therefrom for operating said oil forcingmeans, and manually operable valve means for establishing a by-passcommunication from said piston chamber to said oil forcing means.

12. In an automatic lubricating device, in combination, a casing havingan oil supply chamber, a control chamber, and a piston chamber adaptedto be subjected to alternately increasing and decreasing fluid pressure,oil pumping means operative in accordance with variations in fluidpressure in said piston chamber to pump oil from said supply chamberinto said control chamber, means for subjecting oil in said controlchamber to fluid pressure, fluid pressure operated forcefeed means forsupplying oil under pressure from said supply chamber, a valve adaptedto control communication from the control chamber to said force-feedmeans, and having an inner pressure area surrounded by an outer pressurearea, and a spring normally maintaining said valve seated With only theinner pressure area thereof subjected to the pressure of oil in saidcontrol chamber, said valve being operative upon a predeterminedincrease in the pressure of oil in said control chamber to supply oilunder pressure therefrom to said force-feed means and to establishcommunication from said control chamber to the supply chamber through arestricted passage.

13. A lubricator comprising a casing having a supply chamber containinga supply of fluid lubricant and a control chamber adapted to be suppliedwith fluid under pressure, pump means operative to supply oil from saidsupply chamber to said control chamber, valve means operative on apredetermined increase in the pressure of oil in said control chamber tosupply oil under pressure from said chamber through a passageway, andoil forcing means including a pump element operatively mounted in a borecommunicating with said oil supply chamber, biasing means urging saidpump element into a normal position for permitting said bore to befilled with oil from said supply chamber, and fluid pressure meansresponsive to the pressure of oil supplied through said passageway foroperating said pump element to displace the oil from said bore.

14. An automatic lubricator comprising a casing having a fluid lubricantsupply chamber and a control chamber, force-feed lubricating meansadapted to be operated upon a predetermined increase in the pressure offluid in said control chamber for supplying lubricant under pressurefrom said sup-ply chamber through a delivery communication, pumpingmeans operative to force lubricant from said supply chamber into saidcontrol chamber, and means for adjusting said pumping means to vary therate at which fluid lubricant is sup-plied thereby from said supplychamber to said control chamber.

15. An automatic pressure lubricator comprising a casing having aplurality of lubricant supply chambers, and a control chamber, pumpmeans operative to supply lubricant from one of said chambers to saidcontrol chamber, force-feed distributing mechanism operative upon anincrease in fluid pressure to supply fluid lubricant under pressure fromeach of said supply chambers through separate communications, and valvemeans operative upon a predetermined increase in the pressure oflubricant in said control chamber to supply lubricant under pressuretherefrom to said force-feed distributing mechanism.

16. In a lubricating device, in combination, a casing having a controlchamber, fluid pressure means operative to effect periodic build up offluid pressure in said control chamber, lubricant forcing meansoperative to supply lubricant under pressure through a deliverycommunication, a movable abutment operative on an increase in thepressure of fluid in an operating chamber to actuate said lubricantforcing means, and valve means responsive to each predetermined increasein the pressure of fluid in said control chamber to supply fluid underpressure therefrom to said operating chamber.

17. An automatic lubricating device comprising a casing having an oilsupply chamber, a pressure chamber and a control chamber communicatingtherewith, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pressurechamber, oil pumping means operable to pump oil from said supply chamberinto said control chamber, a float check valve operative when saidcontrol chamber is filled with oil to prevent flow of oil therefrom intosaid pressure chamber while permitting communication of the pressure ofthe fluid in said pressure chamber to the oil in said control-chamber,fluid pressure operated force-feed lubricating mechanism, and meanscontrolling communication from the control chamber to said fluidpressure operated mechanism comprising a normally seated valve having aninner pressure area always subject to pressure of oil in said controlchamber, and an outer pressure area adapted to be subjected to fluidpressure upon the unseating of said valve in response to the increase inoil pressure following each closing of said float check valve, saidcontrol valve being operable periodically to supply oil under thepressure of fluid in said pressure chamber for operating said force-feedlubricating mechanism.

18. An automatic lubricating device comprising a casing having an oilsupply chamber, a control chamber and a piston chamber adapted to besubjected to alternately increasing and decreasing fluid pressures, apiston, oil pumping meansoperative thereby in accordance with variationsin fluid pressure in said piston chamber to pump oil from said supplychamber into said control chamber, means for also supplying fluid underpressure to said control chamber, fluid pressure operated lubricatingmechanism, control valve means operative upon a predetermined increasein the pressure of oil in said control chamber to establishcommunication therefrom to said fluid pressure operated lubricatingmechanism for effecting operation of said mechanism by the pressure offluid and oil accumulated in said control chamber, a restricted. releaseport through which oil and fluid may gradually escape from said fluidpressure operated mechanism to said oil supply chamber followingoperation of said mechanism, a communication through which fluid underpressure may flow from the oil supply chamber above the level of the oiltherein to said piston chamber for thereby utilizing any oil vaporcarried with said fluid, and a check valve preventing back flow of fluidunder pressure through said communication.

BURTON S. AIKMAN.

